*Photos Added * I got one

[xjaugie]

After looking around and dreaming of owning my own Toyota, I finnally pulled the trigger on a blue '95 X-cab today. It has 156,000 miles on the V6 and is in cherry original condition. It was owned by a local State Police officer and was garage kept. Currently it is getting inspected and I should be ale to post a photo or two tomorrow. I've got big plans for this thing. If all goes right I will be able to purchase most of the parts and built it in short time and not a build in progress, but we all know how that goes

The format for the build is a reliable fishing, hunting camping trip vehicle that will travel the highway as well as the tight trails. An A2 military trailer with a RTT will be following the toyota.

Plans include enough suspension adjustments to fit 33's, I'm think All Pro, Or maybe keep it stock hieght and stick a set of 31's. New front and read bumpers with my champion 8,000 LB winch on the front. Locker in the rear, electric or air, not sure yet.

And a bunch of little stuff.

Oh did I mention that the AC works !

Man I'm jack'd - another project, better yet, I get to retire the XJ rock runner and travel the US.

[corax]

Congrats on joining the Toyota Cult

BTW, 32x11.5x15 will fit on stock rims and no lift with very minor rubbing. A 1" body lift (about the biggest I would recommend to anyone) or ball joint spacers and +2" rear shackles will get you into 33x10.5s on rims with stock backspacing

[4Rescue]

You can run 35x10.50's on NO lift fwiw, as Corax said, the rims width and BS are the key bits. That and keeping the tires narrow...

Congrats on the new rig mate. Sounds like a great truck.

PS Corax, my internet is now working again, sorry I didn't get back to your PM from weeks ago eh...

Cheers

Dave

[xjaugie]

I hear ya about fitting the 31" - 33" tires with little or no lift. And I agree with keeping it as low as possible with still not rubbing rubbers, but I feel like I need to upgrade the aging suspension. After doing some more reading on here, I'm think the OME route with 882 coils. I'm looking to go the tall and skinny look, never done it before and want to try it.

I was out past dark last night and will be again tonight, so it maybe Friday before I can take a photo and post it.

Making lists is fun, but I'm sure the Credit card may explode soon.

[corax]

An extended cab pickup should have leaf springs in the rear, not coils, unless someone went hog wild modding out the rear suspension. So in that case and from personal experience, I would suggest OME Dakar rear springs with 25mm SwayAWay torsion bars for the front. That combination has always left me with stable on road handling and decent offroad abilities.

[xjaugie]

Yep it has coils up front and leafs in the back, and i was figuring on the Dakar springs in the rear but the aging coils and struts could use being replaced as well. Also think of going with OME for those.

I think I have the bumpers and sliders choosen, I like the Relentless ones and have E-mailed Eric to get an idea if he can adjust the mounts to fit my '95. I'm leaning toward a set of 235/75R15 or coopers for rubber. I'm looking for a more road freindly than the BFG MTs I've been running on the last several trucks/jeeps.

As far as a locker goes for the rear, would I be better off installing an air locker or trying to find a TRD electric locker rear to swap in?

I guess I should start a build thread once the parts start to arrive. I wrenched on it today swapping in new belts. Is the 3.4 in it, the motor that I should be replacing the water pump? The truck sems to be running plenty of cool, even in 90 degree heat.

[zidaro]

Nice Taco! It is a 95.5 Tacoma right? Looks like it to me. You'll love it and the 3.4 is a beauty.
The 8.4 rear E-locker diffs have a different mounting flange to the axle housing so if you get one, get the housing too. An ARB is going to be a more solid unit (lots of opinions on this) and you will be able to change your gearing options at install time if desired.

[austintaco]

I really like the early Tacomas. I had a 95.5 and in some ways, I liked it more than my 03. It had better stock seats and the sunroof was awesome. The only thing I like better about the 03 is the locker, and it looks like you have one of those in the works already.

Great Truck!

[tanglefoot]

Congrats! That first Tacoma front clip with the recessed headlights and trapezoidal grille is my favorite. I still remember how excited I was when I saw the introductory article in the newspaper with the picture for the first Tacomas. If it were mine, I'd keep it looking completely stock--I love that look.

Enjoy it! Maybe some day I'll be looking for one if the '85 ever falls apart (I'll probably never get the chance to look for one). Hey, atleast I can look AT them.

I have the LockRight from Powertrax in the rear axle. It's an automatic ratcheting type, but it was around $250 to buy and it's the easiest to self-install (no gear setup). It's been in 10 years so far--I'm really happy with it.

Eric

[xjaugie]

Tanglefoot - The rig that the toy replaced is a 96 Cherokee that has a detroit locker in the rear and a Lockright in the front. So I understand how well those work, but for this rig, I was trying to go with something that does not take away from the pavement aspect of the build. This one is not going to be a hard trail rig but a traveling rig and that is why I was leaning toward a selecable locker.

Footnote - This is my second toyota pickup the first one was a 84 one of the last with a soild axle and this one is my first build with IFS. I've got a lot to learn concernig IFS.